Long vacant former piano keys factory tunes up for new life
The former Wood & Brooks piano-key factory will be anchored by 55 market-rate apartments and commercial space that will include the region’s first construction industry-focused co-working space along with a cigar lounge and other planned amenities.
Wood & Brooks project on pace for 2024 opening BY JAMES FINK
T
ucked into a Town of
six-story, 98,370-square-foot building
“I’m definitely getting a master’s
Tonawanda
industrial
at 2101 Kenmore Avenue brought back
degree [in development],” Wopperer
neighborhood, and one
to life. The former Wood & Brooks pi-
said. “There has been a huge learning
that borders the City
ano-key factory will be anchored by 55
process with this project.”
of
Riverside/
market-rate apartments and commer-
One of the oldest and most storied
Black Rock hamlets, is a complex that’s
cial space that will include the region’s
buildings in the Town of Tonawanda,
steeped in history. And, after sitting
first
industry-focused
the structure dates back to 1902 when
mostly vacant and underutilized for
co-working space along with a cigar
it was developed by the Wood and
decades, the building is in the early
lounge and other planned amenities.
Brooks Co., who manufactured piano
Buffalo’s
stages of a $23.1-million redevelopment phoenix that is being lauded for its vision and positive impact on the neighborhood.
construction
“It is definitely a nerve-wracking process,” Wopperer said. For Wopperer, this is his first foray
keys and parts for the instrument. The complex was developed during a 14year period between 1902 and 1916.
into the development world. He is
“It is really a series of additions that
Spearheaded by Michael Wopperer,
tackling a project on a building that has
were built during that time period,”
vice president of Frontier Insulation
been owned by his family’s company
Wopperer said.
Contractors, the project will see the
since 1972.
44
Construction Exchange of Buffalo & WNY, Inc.
At its peak in 1913, the company had